46.28
JEMINI THE GIFTED ONE & DANGER MOUSE - GHETTO POP LIFE
(2003)
Omega Supreme
Bush Boys
Been sorta circling this one for a while, as it was always an album that I found intriguing for its production and lyricism. Was always confused why Jemini never did anything else. Finally googled it today, where they claim to have "solved it" though frankly I am more confused than ever.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140808202445/http://www.boombapbox.com/news/whatever-happened-to-jemini-solved/
The Hip Hop artist Jemini aka Jemini The Gifted One aka Jemini The Funk Soul Sensation, is indisputably one of Hip Hop’s greatest talents. He released singles and an EP throughout the 90s, however his big entrance came in 2003 when he teamed up with super-producer DangerMouse, note, this was before DangerMouse would attain worldwide stardom as one half of Gnarls Barkley together with Cee-Lo Green. The album ‘Ghetto Pop Life’ was released via Lex Records and featured J-Zone, Prince Po, The Alkaholiks and others.
Aside from the unique style, awesome production and cohesiveness of this project, one of the most fascinating aspects is that what from a first glance would be just another dope underground Hip Hop LP (not easy in itself of course), managed to grab the ear and attention of the english and international media’s upper echelon, the success was groundbreaking. So what happened next ?
Well… nothing. Or so it would first seem, for Jemini at least. Whilst we saw DangerMouse go onto release his acclaimed ‘Grey Album’ mix, then slowly take over the music world with Cee-Lo, we heard nothing from Jemini. It was confusing, Jemini had a style like no one else, the album was a hit, the fanbase was solid, but over 10 years would go by with one question on every fans mind, where is Jemini ?
Accordingly, those who were close to Jemini were probably aware, but for us distant fans scattered around the globe, we had no idea. So let’s stop dithering and get to the point, we recently came across a YouTube video that was uploaded in November 2013 and the time of writing has 81 views and simply titled ‘Big City’. Why ? Jemini has changed his name, we and pretty much nobody one else it would seem had any idea. The video reveals that Jemini for one reason or another landed himself up in prison sometime after the release of ‘Ghetto Pop Life’, this can probably explain the Jemini silence.
So to clarify, Jemini is now going by the name ‘Big City’.
We then learn something interesting, Jemini or Big City is currently shopping around a documentary film entitled ‘Mice & Men’, the story and making of ‘Ghetto Pop Life’ to be released soon !? If true it would be a long-awaited treat for DM & Jemini fans, but will it happen ? For those who may recall it was some years ago now we heard that Jemini was planning to release a similar documentary entitled ‘Memoirs Of An MC’, the film was never released. We can only hope this one is.
So what now ? Well, a possible release of ‘Mice & Men’, talks of new music and more. Does a change of name mean a change of style ? DangerMouse reunion ? New LP ?
We got Reagan and Bush and then Reagan and Bush
And then Bush and then Clinton, then Clinton then Bush again
The world don't want it, but the Boys gon' bring it
It's a new world order, let the background sing it
I can see you and your crew, 'cause I see through the fact
That ya hide behind red, white and blue
We don't know the whole story or lie, so before we all die
I hope Congress choke on Old Glory
They hopin' we give up our liberty voluntarily (yeah, not me)
And the #### is scarin' me
They want our sons and our daughters to cross all the borders
And go across waters and fight in a war that leaves innocent people all slaughtered
Their bodies all scattered on sand and the rocks
But they can't find out who killed Biggie and Tupac?
Stop
Hammertime
Y'all got us watchin' bin Laden, Saddam
But y'all the only ones who be committin' all the crimes
Y'all the only ones who got they fingers on the bomb
A lotta people don't see it so I had to drop a dime
So I had to talk about it in a rhyme
A brother had to come and say what's on his mind